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JONATHAN SMITH EATON OF ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 72,988, dated January 7, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT, IN TRUNKS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN SMITH EATON, of Roxbury, in the county of Norfolk, and'State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trunks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making apart f this specification, in whichl Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a. trunk embodying my improvement, and

Figure 2 is a' transverse section of the same.

The object of my invention is to construct a trunk in such a manner as to combine great strength and durability, with economy in manufacture, and elegance in external appearance and the invention consists in covering the frame of a trunk with narrow strips of wood, laid in close proximity to each other, all around its top and sides.

Referring to the drawings, iig. 1 represents a trunk, formed with a frame constructed in thcusual manner, and covered on all its sides and the top with strips of wood, a a, Ste. These strips may be made of wood of any kind, and of any suitable width or thickness, with duc regard to the strength or use required. b, g. 2, is the frame, of any suitable form and material, most commonly of some light wood, such as pine. The frame being properly prepared, the strips a a are secured to thc same, at each end, by means of nails, or rivets, or in any other suitable manner. The strips on the top oi' the trunk may be of a curved or arched lform, toladd to its strength. The strips a'a may be arranged either perpendcularly or transversely, or at any angle to the edges of the trunk or to each other. A layer of some textile material (water-proof, it' desirable,) may be interposed between the slatsl and the frame of the trunk. It is designed, however, that the slats shall be laid so closely together as to render the trunk sufficiently water-proof without the necessity of any lining. The corners are intended 'to be covered, as usual, with sheet metal, for protection, but it is omitted in order to show the means of attaching the ends of the slats to the frame.

The advantages of this method of constructing trunks consist in their increased strength and durability over those of the ordinary manufacture, and also in the diminished cost of manufacture, especially in a trunk of ine finish. The high cost of leather renders a trunk of fine finish quite expensive, and the rough usage to which trunks are subjected in travelling, makes it'necessary that they sl1ould`be of great strength. It is believed that by my improved construction all these advantages are obtained. A trunk, constructed as above described, is capable of a high degree of finish, and may be made a handsome piece of furniture for a chamber, instead of an objectionable feature, as is apt to be the case in trunks of the ordinary style of manufacture.

.Longitudinal braces, c, may be attached to the top of the trunk, in the usual manner, for additional security against defacement.

Having thus described my invention, whatl I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is The combination, with the frame of a trunk, of the strips or pieces a a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JONATHAN S. EATON.

Witnesses:

J. H. ADAMS, S. JAcKsoN, Jr, 

